Jennifer Ward

High School Teacher

Picture the quirky, eccentric English teacher - you know the one who would jump up and down excitedly talking about the psychoanalytic interpretations of a text or gesticulate wildly about the double entendres found in a line of poetry - and you've got Ms. Jennifer Ward, high school English teacher. An interest in expanding opportunities for my public school students has me thinking about ways that technology can be used to connect my students to the authentic audiences. Technology has opened up the doors of my classroom, allowing my tenth grade students to learn where and when ever they have access. As a result, students are taking ownership of their education, sharing their writing with real audiences, and building confidence in their skills. But in a time when budgets are tight, the challenge is helping all students gain access to the same online opportunities.